Golden Gate Hotel, San Francisco

I stayed here last year. The room was okay. The shared bath was okay too. But I left my items behind, and kindly, the "previous" manager emailed me after I contacted them that she had stored my items in her storage. I was unable to visit until this May, but the manager has since changed. The previous manager also did not tell me how long she would be able to keep my items in her storage. And the new manager has not replied to my inquiry at all since May. The front desk never picks up my phone call, nor replies to emails. I wonder if I can even possibly recollect my items.

The price-performance ratio is good. We paid very little and had a room in the sister hotel a few doors down. The building is extremely old, but that gives it charm. The main building has very nice rooms. The location is ideal. The breakfast was only mediocre.

If you're looking for an historic hotel in a good location and can overlook the flaws considering the age of the hotel and the charm of the lobby cat, you'll have an amazing time. Otherwise, keep reading if you are interested in the nooks and crannies. First important point, if you want an on-suite/private bathroom - make sure to book accordingly. I was booking in a rush and didn't notice this until getting there. There's a public bathroom that's shared with everyone on the floor (there's 8 rooms if I recall but some of them have a private bathroom). The public bathroom was quite clean but VERY small and the shower placement was awkward (you basically have to climb over the toilet to enter). If you're any bigger size or weight wise, I would recommend getting a private bathroom. The public bathroom was also often busy or clogged on my floor but you can always go on another (it wasn't too inconvenient). Reading other reviews from the past, the breakfast is definitely even more limited than before. Don't expect waffles or anything more fancy. It was eggs, bacon, luncables-like cheese and ham, some breads, cereals, yogurt, and fruits. It was fine and the eggs were quite nice but it's not something extra special. Also as mentioned in other reviews, the breakfast is in the sister hotel (2 minute walk down the same side of the street). In the time I was there, I think I only saw someone at front desk once. Apparently they should be staffed from 9 to 5 but that didn't seem the case. If you're checking in, I would recommend going to the sister hotel first (it'll most likely be the first hotel you go by anyways). I didn't really need to call them for anything so I can't vouch for if they're responsive or friendly - but they seemed to be in check in/out. The weird smells in rooms on 3rd floor is really a thing. Personally it smelled like cat litter, which would explain why some people can't really smell it (especially cat owners). It definitely wasn't the most pleasant smell so if you're nose sensitive, you might want to bring something to freshen up the room. Last point, the carpet felt awful to walk on barefoot. I don't know if it was because it was dirty in my room or just happened to be that way, but definitely recommend socks or shoes. Overall, I feel my experience was quite average. It's not somewhere I would impatiently wait to return nor somewhere I would recommend to avoid. If you keep in mind the flaws and prepare accordingly, you'll have a fine time.

Stayed here for a work conference. The staff were nice and efficient. They also have a cute inn cat! Super chill and quiet environment. Convenient parking garage across street. Room can feel stuffy but just open the window for a bit and it’ll be ok. Note: I had a shared bathroom (aka no bathroom in your private room), if you’re not comfortable with that - check your reservation. Breakfast is in a separate hotel, a little walk on the same street. Great stay!

This was not a good experience for my son and my aunt, who stayed there this week. The bathroom was completely dirty, and overall the hotel conditions were very disappointing. The only positive thing was the beds. This place does not really feel like a hotel. For the price, we could have found much better options in the area, so I do not recommend it. Additionally, there is only one bathroom shared among seven rooms, and the room was located in a basement, which made the stay even less comfortable.